Forgetting what you read, when you read a paragraph from a book, you can't read further without having to start over again.

You do not feel like interacting with anything and anyone and rather running on autopilot all day.

Your body is not physically tired, but your brain is.

You feel like rather watching your life than to participate in it.

Everything is just blank when you try to remember something.

You require extra effort to perform or complete ordinary activities.

In a conversation, you can't find the correct words to use.

You are not able to solve math problems as good as you were able to previously.

Brain fog also known as cognitive dysfunction can be caused by sleep apnea. Insomnia and narcolepsy can also cause Brain Fog and is not limited to sleep apnea. A number of studies demonstrated that cognitive dysfunction is present in patients with obstructive sleep apnea, but the reason is not quite clear. Studies have suggested that the main cause for memory problems and physical abilities are hypoxemia (the deficient oxygenation of the blood). Excessive daytime sleepiness is another cause, which appears due to sleep fragmentation.

When sleep apnea is treated, the brain fog will improve or even disappear! Treatment with CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure) machine demonstrates significant improvements in memory, concentration, verbal fluency and alertness. If you do not have access to a CPAP, the best way to improve your brain fog is to sleep on your side.

1.Dietary Considerations for a Healthy Brain

The exceptionally high rate of metabolism in the brain makes it particularly responsive to the nutritional content of the diet. A Western diet that is high in simple carbohydrates and dietary fat is bad for the body and the brain. Changing this to a Mediterranean diet will improve the nutrients the brain needs for optimal function.

2. Mediterranean Diet

A great deal of scientific literature validates the Mediterranean diet as a staple for those concerned with cardiovascular health, cognitive health and longevity. The diet focuses on “good” fats – mono- and poly-unsaturated fats, especially omega-3’s and olive oil, multi-coloured fruits and vegetables. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been linked with improved insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism, blood pressure, reduced risk of developing cancer or metabolic syndrome, as well as an overall decrease in mortality.

The brain also benefits greatly from the health-promoting lipids and antioxidants that are ample in the Mediterranean diet. An abundance of scientific literature concedes that adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with better cognitive performance in a variety of populations.

3. Brain Training

Your brain is central to everything; from how easily you remember to how fast you complete tasks and how easily you solve problems. Brain Training is related to an almost endless variety of mental activities, from what you think, to what you do.

Brain Training ensures that its protocols provide the maximum benefit for your long term cognitive health, from the speed of your brain, memory, flexibility, attention to problem solving. Brain training can improve your memory loss – it is the same principle when training a muscle to get stronger, here you train the brain to remember things more clearly.

4. Calorie Restriction

Calorie restriction is the restriction of caloric intake to a level modestly below normal, typically 20% to 30% less, but the diet should be dense with micronutrients to maintain optimal nutrition. Calorie restriction is well-known for its ability to induce favorable changes in peripheral insulin sensitivity, which enhances insulin signaling in the central nervous system. The brain relies greatly on proper insulin signaling for a variety of functions that impact cognition and so it is not surprising that calorie restriction has been shown to benefit cognitive function in many studies.

5. Alcohol Consumption

By the same token, heavy alcohol consumption is bad for overall health and should be avoided at all costs.

6. Moderate Caffeinated Coffee Consumption

Moderate coffee consumption has been shown to have a protective effect on the brain. Coffee, like red wine, is an excellent source of antioxidant and neuroprotective compounds.

7. Undergo a Sleep study and ensure that you don’t have Sleep Apnea.

Overnight Sleep studies done in the comfort of your home will diagnose OSA or UARS which have a negative effect on overall health and brain function.

Correcting this problem could give you a new lease on life and loads of energy!